Microscope



A1185 27, l945- I A. H. BENNETT TAL 'MIcRoscoPE Filed Aug- 2s. 1945 5 sheets-sheet s im :5T

INV ENT OR. AL v4 Haf/wvfrr osC/ve m @H4205 Trop/wav A. H. BENNETT i-:rAL 2,406,526

MICROSCOPE Filed Aug. 2s, 1945 'Aug. 27, 194s.

5 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR.

ALV/1 H. BEN/V677' 0 $04 m eraf/neas Patented Aug. 27, 1946 MICROSCOPE Alva H. Bennett, Kenmore, and Oscar W. Richards, Snyder, N. Y., assignors, by mesne lass'gnments, to American Optical Company,

Southbridge, Mass., a voluntary 'association Application August'23, 1943, Serial No.`499,596Y

This invention relatesv to microscopes Vor the like and has particular reference to anew and improved stereoscopic binocular biobjective type microscope, that is, a' mcroscope for obtaining a stereoscopic effect in the viewing `of the object or specimen, and has particular reference to such a device wherein the degree or amount of stereoscope effect may be easily and quickly altered without any change in the position of the oculars or eyepieces. y

An object of the invention is to provide a binocular microscope wiereby a stereoscopic view of the object under examination may be obtained and withwhich different degrees ofstereoscopy, hyper, ortho, `or hypostereoscopy, that is,A the apparent depthof the object may be enhanced or reduced easily andquickly withoutinterfering with the position or setting of' the oculars or eyepieces forthe particular interpupillary measurement of the observer.

An object of the present .invention is to provide a stereoscopic binocular microscope which allows the viewing of an object with different degrees of stereoscopic appearance without change of objectives or magnification andvwithout interfering with the interpupillary distance of the observer;

Referring to the dra'wir'igs:` v i. v

Fig. 1 is a front View partially insection of .a microscope embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional'view taken on Cline 2-12 Fig. 1 looking in the directionof the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4- is a sectional View takenon line 4-4 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a Sectional View taken along'line 5--5 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken alongnline 6 6 of` Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing theA stereoscopic image or reveal depth in -the speci,

men. In the design and construction of such 11` Claims.

part of the arrangefv (Cisa-395 A seen in the microscope. y, It is pointed out that in many cases it would instruments however it has been necessary that the amount of stereoscopic effect be xed becausein order to obtain any different stereoscopic effect it was necessary that the interpuzpillary distancethat is, the distance between theoculars or eyepieces be also altered.

It will be apparent that this allowed no useful adjustment .of the stereoscopic eiect because if the interpupillary distance were altered` appreciably the oculars would no longer be 'aligned with. the two eyes .as required for viewing through the microscope.

Thebest known stereoscopicmicroscopes were first a construction in which two separate micro-V scopes wereemployed with the microscopes beingA held in a rack Next aform was constructed whereinvtwo microscopes were adjustably` hinged together. It will be seen thatwith either 4ofthe above constructions that it lwas ,impossible to` alter the stereoscopic eiectiof theinstrument to any extent without simultaneously ldisturbingtor interfering with the interpupillary distance vorsetting of the oculars `and therefore to obtain any appreciable change in stereoscopic eiiect was not practical.. v

The next forrnand whichis the form now generally employed is a construction wherein the any7 change inthe degreefofstereoscopic effect with the instrument, that is,.it is not possible to; control the apparent perspective of -the image be highly advantageous to be able tofstud'ydifferent objects with different degrees ofy stereoscopic effect andl in some cases it would be highly advantageous to. be able to observe or study a.

single object with diiferent degrees of stereo-v scopic effect and without interfering with the( interpupillary ydistance or setting of the' eyepieces or oculars;

It therefore is an object of the present inven-V tion to .provide a new `and improved meansjand method whereby a single object or separate o bjects inaybe viewed with different degreesrof with the interpupillary'setting of the oculars;

Referring more particularhT to the drawings wherein similarv reference characters designate Corresponding parts throughout the several views,

These oculars I and 2 are of the conventional There is also provided a pair of objectives 4 f gears 21a, 28a and 21 which gear is directly contype and the means (not shown) vfor adjusting the interpupilllary distance by adjusting said-` oculars relativeto each other may also be of the y conventional type.

and 5V which are optically aligned with the oculars 1 I and 2 respectively andvvhich are adapted -to-V focus on a specimen under examination on the l stage 6.

Optically aligned With the ocular I are the reand are adapted to be adjusted as a unitY by means of the threaded member I2 which has the -knobs I3 and I4 :at the opposite sides of the casing respectively and which hasthe'portions I5 1' and I6 oppositelyuthreaded into the Vthreaded blocks I'Iand I8. Opti'cally 'aligned with the ocularV 2 arerelecting prisms'l :and 8', lens 9y andl directvisionfinverting prismIIl and double dove prism Y I I corresponding to'j these rpreviously is adapted to be actuated therein by means of the knobs I3` `and `III which actuate; the. threaded member I2 and simultaneously With theadjustment of the slide I9 thev member 2| which has the forked portion 22,adjacent the lower end thereof causes adjustment of the support 23 for 1 the dove prism I I Whichcauses said prism Isup.- lport and prism to be` ,adjusted` according to theV direction of movement ofthe member 22 and also causes movement of the support25. j

In both theY form shown in Figli andthe form i shown in Fig. 8A the suppori'filV is slideably positioned in the doveY tail slide 24yand in .the form `shovvn in Fig. 1 such movement by means of the gears 21,2141; 28 and 28a causes'rotation ofthe `dove Aprism II to proper angular relation- In the form shown in Figs.' 8 andl I0 the cam rider 26 causes pivotal adjustment of the double dove `prism II angularly relative to the optical axis lof thejprism It and lens 32 Vand simultaneously' adjusts Vthe optical axis ofthe objectives 4 and `5 according to the amount of adjustment of .the screw member I2 to vary the angle from which.

ithe specimen is observedrwhich permits true, in.- creased or decreased depth or Vthe appearance of the third dimension. i The gears 21, 21a, 28 and 28a as shown inFigs. 1- and 4 vare mounted on the sliding support 25- and are adapted to be moved or adjusted-therewith. The racks 30a. andBIa'are securedtojthe leasing 3' and-'each rack ifs-always in' mesh withY `its respective gear 28 so'that movement of the sliding'suppo-rt 25 will automatically cause rotationof the gears 28 and thereby cause rotation` lof the dovefprisms I I kthrough the rotation @fthe flectin'g prisms 'I and 8, the lens 9, the direct vision inverting prism I Il and the double dove prism II. The prism 8 and prism I I) are adjust-1 f ably mounted as a unit relative to the prism l nected to the mount for the prism I I. Y

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 8 will give a wider range of change in stereoscopic eiect because the adjustment is not limited by the adjustment of the oculars for interpupillary distance as is the form shown in Fig. 1.

Theprisms "I in the form shown in Fig. 1 are each mounted for adjustment with its respective ocular I or 2 and is adapted to be automatically horizontally adjusted upon adjustment of its respective ocular.

In the form of invention shown in Fig. 8 the prism I is fixed as may be the lens 32Y but the prism member 3| is Divotable about the axis of lens 32 as isthe ocular in order to adjustfr the oculars to desired interpupillary distance.

vThedirect` vision inverting prism III is of the type known as Pechan prism and serves to invert the image in one direction only.

The form of theinvention shown in Figs. 8 and 10 are substantially the same as the form shown in Figi except that'the. housing of the prismv member 3| is pivoted and the range of travel of the prisms`8 is increased, the prism 'I remaining fixed during pivotal movement ofthe prism member 3l and 1ens32. l y

' Also this form is provided With the cam 2t'vr and rider 33 in place of theA gear'system shownl with the prior form. Both forms contain the objectives 4 and 5 which are interchangeable with other objectives to obtain thev desired magnication.`

It will be seen from Fig. 8 that rotation of the member I4 will cause rotation of the threaded member VIll therebyY causing movement o f the memberZ'I and prisms 8 and Il] with the direc?- tion of suchV movement depending upon the di rectionV of turningof the'knob I 4' and threaded l member. I6 and the yoke'member ZI will move adjusting certain of the'optical elements of saidv optical system relative to other elements of said the prism support "25 in the dove tail 24. The' prism II on its support 23 is carried bodilyin the same direction bythe prism support 25 with Y lV the cam rider 2S ,resiliently urged against the' face of the cam member or track`30 by the spring 29 to properly angle said prism, member. II and objective 4 or 5. Y

The dove prisms I I serve'to turn the light rays coming from the objective into the axis of prism I0 and said prisms II may be angularly adjusted according to its position. l Y

The prism 3| and lens .32 and mechanical arrangement therefore as shown in the form of the invention of Fig. 8 could be employed in the form of invention shown yin Fig.V 1v and in fact would considerably increase the range of depthvision in that form. v In this Case the lense would be replaced by the lens 32.

In the forms of invention shown the conventional coarse and fine adjusting mechanism may be employed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that Wehave provided simple, efficient and'economical means for obtaining all of the objects and advantagesV VVcroscope, a pair of oculars,.an' objective for each of said oculars and each of'said objectivesibeing optically aligned with its respective ocular, an optical system interposed between each of said oculars and its respective objective, means for system and meansactuated'by said adjustment of said optical elements to change .the angular relation of said objectives relativev to each other to Vary the degree of stereoscopic vision atwhich a specimen may beviewed through the microscope andfor automatically adjusting the angular relation of an optical element whereby specimens' may be viewed through'said microscope at different degrees of stereoscopic vision without disturbing the settingof the oculars for the particular observer. f

2. In a stereoscopic binocular biobjective microscope, a pair` of oculars, said oculars being adjustable lrelative to each' other to allow said oculars to be adjusted for the interpupillary distance of the user ofthe microscope, `an optical system 'opticallyaligned .with each of said oculars and including apair of objectives with one of said objectives optically aligned with each of said oculars, said optical systems each having a reflector in fixed optical alignment with the ocular and a movable reflector optically aligned with 3. In a stereoscopic binocular biobjective micro-V scope, a pair of oculars, said oculars being adjustable relative to each other to allow said oculars to be adjusted for the interpupillary distance of the user of the microscope, an optical system including an objective optically aligned with each of said oculars, said optical systems each having a reflector in fixed alignment/with its respective ocular, and an adjustable reflector means optically aligned with said fixed reflector and adjustable relative thereto, means for adjusting said adjustable reflector relative to said fixed reflector, and means operated by said means for adjusting said adjustable reflector for changing the angular relation of said objectives relative to each `other to vary the degree of stereoscopic vision through the microscope without changing the setting of the oculars for the user of the microscope.

4. In a stereoscopic binocular biobjective microscope, a pair of oculars, said oculars being adjustable relative to each other to allow said oculars to be adjusted for the interpupillary distance of the user of the microscope, an optical system including an objective optically aligned with each of said oculars, said optical systems each having fixed reflector means in alignment with its respective ocular, and adjustable reflector means optically aligned with said fixed reflector means and adjustable relative thereto, means for adjusting said adjustable reflector relative to said fixed reflector, and means connected with said means for adjusting said adjustable reflector for changing the angular relation of said objectives relative to each other to Vary the degree of stereoscopic vision through the microscope Without changing the setting of the oculars for the user of the microscope and direct Vision inverting means between said adjustable reflectors and said objectives.

5. In a stereoscopic binocular biobjective microscope, a pair of oculars, said oculars being adjustable relative to each other to allow said oculars to be adjusted for the interpupillary distance of the user of the microscope, an optical system 6 including an objective optically aligned with each of lsaid oculars, said optical systems each having a reflector in fixed alignment with its respective ocular, and an adjustable reflector optically aligned with said fixed reflector means and adjustable relative thereto, ymeans for adjusting said adjustable reflector relative to said fixedreflector, and means for changing ther angular relation of said objectives relative to each other to vary the degree of stereoscopic Vision through the microscope without changing the setting of the oculars I forthe user of the microscope and optical means adjacent each objective and in optical alignment therewith and with said adjustable reflector for directing' light from said objective toward said adjustable reector. 6. In a stereoscopic binocular biobjective microscope, a pair of oculars, said oculars being adjustable relative to each other to allow said oculars to be adjusted to meet the interpupillary requirements of the user of the microscope, an optical system in optical alignment with each of said oculars, said optical systems each having a reflector in fixed alignment with its respective ocular and an adjustable reflector optically aligned with said fixed reflector, an objective optically aligned with said adjustable reflector and means for adjusting said adjustable reflector relative to said fixed reflector and means for changing the angular relation of said objectives to vary the degree of stereoscopic vision through the microscope without changing the setting of the oculars for the user of the microscope and means adjusted by the adjustment of said adjustable reilectors for retaining optical alignment between said objectives and said adjustable reflectors.

7. In a stereoscopic binocular biobjective microscope, a pair of oculars, said oculars being adjustable relative to each other to allow said oculars to be adjusted to meet the requirements of the user of the microscope, an optical system in optical alignment with each of said oculars, said -and optical means adjacent each objective and angularly adjustable simultaneously with said 0bjective for directing light from said objective toward said adjustable reflector.

8. A stereoscopic binocular ,biobjective microscope comprising a pair of oculars, a pair of objectives one for each ocular, each objective being pivotally mounted for swinging adjustment independently of its ocular on an axis transverse to its optical axis while said optical axis remains directed upon the object to be observed, and light directing means cooperating with each objective for directing light between said objective and its respective ocular, each light directing means being adjusted by movement of its respective objective to maintain the latter in optical alignment with its respective ocular.

9. A stereoscopic binocular biobjective microscope comprising a pair of oculars, a pair of objectives one for each ocular, each objective being pivotally mounted independently of its ocular for arcuate adjustment while the optical axis of each justing-means for arcuately swinging said Objec;

tive and for maintaining its'respective light directing means in opticalalignment therewith and with its respective ocular.

16'. A stereoscopic binocular biobjective micro-l scope comprisingra pair of; oculars;r a pair of objectives one for each ocular, said objectives being y mounted for swinging adjustment, independently of the oculars, about substantially the same point in the Vplane of the material to be observed: While the Yoptical axis of each remainsdirected substanv tially upon said point, light directing means between said objectives Yand' said ,ocularsg and com.;l mon adjusting meansfor simultaneously swing` Y ing' said objectives and adjusting said lightdirectingmeans to maintain each objective in op' tical alignment with its respective ocular.

. 11." A stereoscopic binocular VVbobjective micro-4 scope comprising for each eye ari-ocular, anob jective, light directing means carried on a com- ,mon mounting with said objective, means for'- adjusting said mounting to swing said objective l about the object to be observed while the optical axis of the objective remains directed'upon said object, and adjusting means actuated by said first mentioned adjusting means for maintain'ingfsai'di light directing means in optical alignment with said objective and with its respective ocular.` f

' fALVA H. BENNETT. Y 

